Published: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 12:17 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 3:56 p.m.

Stetson's Kayla Drury, an A-Sun all-freshman team selection last year, is hitting .307.

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Drury, then a sophomore at Taylor High, looked across the diamond at the Spruce Creek senior — one of the area's top players — and saw a challenge.

“I really, really wanted to beat them because I knew Chrissy was headed to Stetson,” Drury said.

Less than a year later, Drury verbally committed to the Hatters and her mindset quickly changed.

“I thought, 'Well, we're going to be teammates now. So, we better get close to one another,'” she said.

Instead of enjoying a local rivalry, the Stetson teammates are busy making history together.

On the heels of their first Atlantic Sun Conference crown since 2007, the Hatters will be making their second appearance in the NCAA tournament when they face Central Florida today in the Gainesville Regional.

Stetson (38-12) split with UCF (41-16) this season and would likely face Florida — the nation's fifth-ranked team — with a victory. The Gators (45-11) host Florida A&M (24-27) in their opener at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium.

“It's really exciting to have this chance,” Morello said. “We could actually make a name for ourselves if we play our game and keep playing together.”

While the path to this stage has been longer for Morello, who just played her 200th game as a Hatter, it's felt equally surreal.

Morello was a two-time News-Journal All-Area player and hit .452 with 26 stolen bases as a senior at Spruce Creek. She's originally from New Jersey, but her decision to stay local became simple when adversity struck.

During her final year of high school, her mother, Doreen, suffered a stroke, prompting Morello to make an easy choice.

“I wanted my parents to be able to come see me play,” Morello said. “They gave up so much of their lives to drive me all over the country to play softball. So, I felt like they should see me finish my career.”

Morello said her parents have missed “maybe 15” games in four years, and her mother has steadily improved. She was able to recover quickly enough to catch Morello's high school signing, and is walking with a cane.

Morello's career hasn't been a letdown in the entertainment department, either.

The two-time second-team all-conference selection is fourth on the team with a .322 average. Morello is also tied for the lead with 56 hits and second on the squad with 14 steals.

“They love it,” Morello said. “There's times when I'm like, 'You guys really don't need to come to every game. I'd understand if you missed a game.' But they're like, 'We love it. This is our sport, too. These are our girls.' ”

After Morello's freshman year at Stetson, she played travel ball with the Central Florida Sting and truly got to know Drury for the first time. Since, the two have been close friends.

Drury said it didn't take long for them to mesh.

“Playing together helped me get a better idea of what a great person Chrissy was, as well as what a great teammate and what a great ballplayer,” said Drury, who is hitting .307 and was an all-freshman team selection last season.

Drury lives only 5 minutes from Stetson's campus and has enjoyed the local support, although it can be challenging at times.

“It's always a little awkward when you go everywhere and your mom knows this person or this person knows your dad or your grandparents, and you can't seem to get away,” she said. “But, at the same time, it's also great. You have fans that show up to your games and actually know you and really care about you.”

She hit .569 and helped Taylor win a district title during her junior season. At the time, Drury said that accomplishment felt like reaching the World Series.

“It's going to be a big moment on a really big field in front of a really big crowd,” she said. “But, I think we're ready for it. I really do.”

The winners of the two first-round games play Saturday, while the losers play an elimination game later in the day. There's another knock-out game later that night with the regional being decided Sunday. The champion advances to the NCAA Super Regionals against the Seattle Regional winner.

“Growing up, we watched all these games, we watched the regionals, we watched the World Series, and now we're a part of it,” Morello said. “So, why not us?”

<p>When Kayla Drury and Chrissy Morello first met, friendship wasn't exactly on the table.</p><p>Drury, then a sophomore at Taylor High, looked across the diamond at the Spruce Creek senior — one of the area's top players — and saw a challenge.</p><p>“I really, really wanted to beat them because I knew Chrissy was headed to Stetson,” Drury said.</p><p>Less than a year later, Drury verbally committed to the Hatters and her mindset quickly changed.</p><p>“I thought, 'Well, we're going to be teammates now. So, we better get close to one another,'” she said.</p><p>Instead of enjoying a local rivalry, the Stetson teammates are busy making history together.</p><p>On the heels of their first Atlantic Sun Conference crown since 2007, the Hatters will be making their second appearance in the NCAA tournament when they face Central Florida today in the Gainesville Regional. </p><p>Stetson (38-12) split with UCF (41-16) this season and would likely face Florida — the nation's fifth-ranked team — with a victory. The Gators (45-11) host Florida A&amp;M (24-27) in their opener at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium.</p><p>“It's really exciting to have this chance,” Morello said. “We could actually make a name for ourselves if we play our game and keep playing together.”</p><p>While the path to this stage has been longer for Morello, who just played her 200th game as a Hatter, it's felt equally surreal.</p><p>Morello was a two-time News-Journal All-Area player and hit .452 with 26 stolen bases as a senior at Spruce Creek. She's originally from New Jersey, but her decision to stay local became simple when adversity struck.</p><p>During her final year of high school, her mother, Doreen, suffered a stroke, prompting Morello to make an easy choice.</p><p>“I wanted my parents to be able to come see me play,” Morello said. “They gave up so much of their lives to drive me all over the country to play softball. So, I felt like they should see me finish my career.”</p><p>Morello said her parents have missed “maybe 15” games in four years, and her mother has steadily improved. She was able to recover quickly enough to catch Morello's high school signing, and is walking with a cane.</p><p>Morello's career hasn't been a letdown in the entertainment department, either.</p><p>The two-time second-team all-conference selection is fourth on the team with a .322 average. Morello is also tied for the lead with 56 hits and second on the squad with 14 steals.</p><p>“They love it,” Morello said. “There's times when I'm like, 'You guys really don't need to come to every game. I'd understand if you missed a game.' But they're like, 'We love it. This is our sport, too. These are our girls.' ”</p><p>After Morello's freshman year at Stetson, she played travel ball with the Central Florida Sting and truly got to know Drury for the first time. Since, the two have been close friends.</p><p>Drury said it didn't take long for them to mesh.</p><p>“Playing together helped me get a better idea of what a great person Chrissy was, as well as what a great teammate and what a great ballplayer,” said Drury, who is hitting .307 and was an all-freshman team selection last season.</p><p>Drury lives only 5 minutes from Stetson's campus and has enjoyed the local support, although it can be challenging at times.</p><p>“It's always a little awkward when you go everywhere and your mom knows this person or this person knows your dad or your grandparents, and you can't seem to get away,” she said. “But, at the same time, it's also great. You have fans that show up to your games and actually know you and really care about you.”</p><p>She hit .569 and helped Taylor win a district title during her junior season. At the time, Drury said that accomplishment felt like reaching the World Series.</p><p>The fact that's now actually an attainable goal hasn't quite registered.</p><p>“It's going to be a big moment on a really big field in front of a really big crowd,” she said. “But, I think we're ready for it. I really do.”</p><p>The winners of the two first-round games play Saturday, while the losers play an elimination game later in the day. There's another knock-out game later that night with the regional being decided Sunday. The champion advances to the NCAA Super Regionals against the Seattle Regional winner.</p><p>“Growing up, we watched all these games, we watched the regionals, we watched the World Series, and now we're a part of it,” Morello said. “So, why not us?”</p>